Ragnall ua Ímair, King of Waterford facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ragnall ua Ímair
King of Waterford
Ragnall's name as it appears on folio 39r of Oxford Bodleian Library Rawlinson B 489.
Reign	1022–1035
Predecessor	Sitriuc mac Ímair
Died	1035
Dynasty	Uí Ímair (probably)

Ragnall ua Ímair (died 1035) was a powerful leader in the 1000s. He was also known as Ragnall mac Ragnaill. He ruled as the King of Waterford, an important city in Ireland. Ragnall was king from 1022 until he died in 1035.

Who Was Ragnall?

Ragnall's name as it appears in an old book called the Annals of Tigernach.

Ragnall was likely a descendant of Ímar, who was also a King of Waterford. This means Ímar was one of Ragnall's ancestors.

Ragnall's father might have been another king named Ragnall mac Ímair. If so, the name "ua Ímair" means "grandson of Ímar." This shows how important family names were back then. Old Irish history books, called the Irish Annals, mention Ragnall's death and his family connections.

Ragnall's Time as King

Reginald's Tower in Waterford is a famous landmark. It was built much later, but it stands where an old Viking fort likely was. It might even be named after a king like Ragnall.

We don't know a lot about the kings of Waterford in the early 1000s. Before Ragnall, there were other kings from his family. Ímar died in the year 1000. His son, Ragnall mac Ímair, died as king in 1018.

Another of Ímar's sons, Sitriuc mac Ímair, was killed in 1022. After that, Ragnall ua Ímair became king. He ruled Waterford for about 13 years.

How Ragnall Died

In 1035, Ragnall was killed. He was slain by Sitriuc mac Amlaíb, who was the King of Dublin. This event is recorded in several old Irish history books. These include the Annals of the Four Masters, the Annals of Tigernach, and the Annals of Ulster.

The year after Ragnall's death, Sitriuc mac Amlaíb was forced out of Dublin. This was done by a person named Echmarcach mac Ragnaill. It's possible that Echmarcach was related to Ragnall, perhaps his brother or son. If so, Echmarcach might have been getting revenge for Ragnall's death.

After Ragnall's death, Waterford became less independent. Other powerful Irish families, like the Uí Briain and the Uí Cheinnselaig, started to have more control over the city. Just two years later, an Irishman named Cú Inmain ua Robann became the King of Waterford.